NASA has embarked on a mission to test a solar sail system that uses solar energy to propel spacecraft through space. The world’s most advanced solar sail spacecraft, known as ACS3, took off on Rocket Lab’s Electron booster from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 6:32 a.m. on April 24, as part of the Beginning Of The Swarm mission.
The ACS3 is an important advancement in space technology, with tension poles made from extremely light polymer composite materials and a special configuration for stowage to make the system lighter and more stable. The sail collects solar energy pressure to propel the spacecraft at high speeds, similar to a sailboat.
Engineers have designed the tensioning poles of the solar sail to act like sailboat masts, keeping the sails taut to collect solar energy. These poles fold compactly to overcome the challenge of fitting a large-scale sail into a rocket’s cargo compartment. Engineers use a pulling system to open the pole and hold the sail while onboard cameras record the process.
The project aims to evaluate a new solar sail design and measure its thrust in low orbit, as well as test the toughness of the composite tension pole. After the initial flight and subsystem testing period, ACS3 will spend multiple weeks testing its ability to raise and lower its orbit. If successful, NASA plans to scale up the design for interstellar travel.